Mute swan videos, photos and facts - Cygnus olor | ARKive Top Mute swan biology The mute swan feeds chiefly on submerged aquatic vegetation, which is obtained by upending (tipping head first into the water, so that the tail remains visible above the surface) (5) . It also feeds in fields on young cereal crops (6) , spilt grain (5) , and on artificial food sources, such as bread given by the public (3) . Territorial disputes may result in aggressive fights between mute swan males, in which they rush at one another and slide along the surface of the water (2) . Pairs typically nest solitarily, although semi-domesticated birds may nest in large colonies (8) (notably at Abbotsbury in Dorset) (6) . The cone-shaped nest is built at the edge of the water, and may be used in subsequent years by the same pair (5) . After mid-April, between five and seven (up to 12) whitish or pale blue eggs are laid.

They are incubated , mainly by the female, for 35 to 42 days; the young, known as 'cygnets', leave the nest soon after hatching (5) . Both parents take care of the cygnets for an extended period, often until the next breeding season (5) . Top Mute swan range Found throughout Britain, the mute swan is absent from high ground and areas without fresh water (3) . After 1960, the population began to decline as a result of poisoning from lead fishing weights (3) . Since the mid-1980s and the banning of lead weights however, the population has increased (7) . Outside of Britain, the mute swan is known throughout Europe and central Asia (8) ; it has also been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and North America (5) . Top Mute swan status The mute swan is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1) . It is a widespread and common species in the UK, not listed under any conservation designations (3) . Included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List (medium conservation concern) (4) .

Top Mute swan threats Harsh winters and poisoning from lead fishing weights were responsible for the decline of the mute swan population in Britain. A series of mild winters combined with the banning of lead weights has resulted in the recovery of the numbers of this beautiful bird (7) . Top Mute swan conservation Strong lobbying to ban lead fishing weights has enabled mute swans to recover from the crash in numbers caused by lead poisoning. They will also have benefited from action carried out for other species of wildfowl, such as the creation and management of wetland nature reserves (6) . There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Cygnus olor, mute swan: INFORMATION Skip directly to main content . Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species Cygnus olor What do they look like? Mute swans are large birds, measuring 144 to 158 cm. The wingspan is 2 to 2.5 meters. The two sexes are alike in appearance, except that males are generally larger than females. The plumage is white.

They are best distinguished from North American swans by the knob at the base of the upper bill, and the color of the bill itself, which is orange, with the tip and base colored black. The head and neck may sometimes be stained brown from water and mud containing iron. Other Physical Features 6.56 to 8.20 ft Where do they live? Mute swans breed in the British Isles, north central Europe and north central Asia. They winter as far south as North Africa, the Near East, and to northwest India and Korea. They have been successfully introduced in North America, where they are a widespread species. They are a common breeding species and permanent resident in various locations throughout Michigan and the eastern United States. Biogeographic Regions native What kind of habitat do they need? Mute swans are the most common swans in the wild, in parks or on country estates in their native range. In winter, they are more common on marine waters. They live in well-sheltered bays, open marshes, lakes, and ponds. These animals are found in the following types of habitat estuarine How do they reproduce?

Mute swans do not mate for life, contrary to the stereotype of the 'pining swan' who has lost its mate. In fact, some have been observed to have as many as four mates, or even 'divorce' one mate in favor of another. However, established pairs are more successful breeders than non-established pairs and mute swans do mate with only one other swan during each breeding season. Mating System monogamous Mute swans rarely nest in colonies. Nest sites are selected and breeding begins in March or early April. These swans either build a new nest or use a previously constructed mound, such as a muskrat house. The nest is large, made of aquatic vegetation, and lined with feathers and down. It is built well above the normal water level in swampy places near a pond or lake. It is possible for clutches of 5 to 12 to occur, but 5 to 7 is most common. The eggs are pale gray to pale blue-green. Incubation lasts 36 to 38 days. The chicks are brownish gray (gradually turning white within the next 12 months) and only remain in the nest for one day.

The male may often take the first-hatched cygnet (hatchling swan) to the water while the female continues to incubate the remaining eggs. They are able to fly in about 60 days. Chicks can ride on the backs of their parents or under their wings. By the following breeding season the parents drive the young away. The cygnets then join flocks of other non-breeding swans, and during this time molt their feathers, becoming flightless for a short period of time. In the next two years, the cygnets begin to bond with a mate and begin to look for suitable breeding territory. Swans do not begin to breed until about their third year. Key Reproductive Features How often does reproduction occur? Mute swans breed once yearly. Breeding season Breeding begins in March and April. Range eggs per season Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 3 years social Home Range Mute swans set up large territories of 4 to 10 acres, which can include an entire small lake or pond. How do they communicate with each other? Mute swans have keen vision and hearing. Mute swans are usually silent, as the name suggests.

Adults sometimes snort and make hissing noises or puppy-like barking notes or whistles, though the sounds are not far-reaching due to their straight trachea. Also, the sound of the wings during flight, which has been described as a musical throbbing or humming, is very audible. They also use visual displays as a form of communication, such as postures. For example, in an aggressive posture, males often arch their secondary wing feathers over the back. Communication Channels chemical What do they eat? Mute swans eat mainly aquatic vegetation, but include small proportions of aquatic insects , fish , and frogs . Mute swans plunge their head and long neck below the water's surface to graze.. Swans feed in deeper waters than ducks and other waterfowl that share their habitat and thus do not compete with them directly for food. Rather, food is made more readily available to other birds by swans because parts of the plants they consume float to the surface while the swans are feeding. However, mute swans compete with other swans for food because they feed in similar ways. Primary Diet What roles do they have in the ecosystem? Mute swans impact aquatic vegetation communities through their grazing. Do they cause problems?

Swans may attack people who approach their nests too closely. There are records of them knocking boaters off of jet skis. An adult swan can seriously injure children. In addition, mute swans are thought to pose a threat to native wildlife as a result of competition for food, territories, and nesting areas. Ways that these animals might be a problem for humans injures humans How do they interact with us? Mute swans were domesticated for food in Britain. Markings on their feet indicated ownership. Eventual domestication saved the bird from becoming hunted to extinction there. Feathers were also used as quills for writing, the leathery web used for purses, and the wing bones for making whistles. Ways that people benefit from these animals: body parts are source of valuable material Are they endangered? The successful introduction and expansion of mute swans into North America may pose significant concerns to native wildlife. Common loons (threatened in Michigan) and recently re-introduced trumpeter swans are two species of primary concern. The North American population of mute swans has been increasing steadily since its introduction.

These birds are aggressive, and have been known to drive off such stubborn and similarly sized species as Canada geese and trumpeter swans . Wildlife managers seek to control non-native mute swans in areas where native wildlife is being threatened. Mute Swan - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Mute Swan The Mute Swan was first formally described by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin as Anas olor in 1789, and was transferred by Johann Matthäus Bechstein to the new genus Cygnus in 1803. It is the type species of the genus Cygnus. The synonym Sthenelides olor has occasionally been used in the past. Picture of the Mute Swan has been licensed under a GFDL Original source: Own work Author: Sanchezn Permission: GNU Free Documentation License The Mute Swan is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae.

It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. More mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks. They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females. More The Mute Swan was first formally described by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin as Anas olor in 1789, and was transferred by Johann Matthäus Bechstein to the new genus Cygnus in 1803. It is the type species of the genus Cygnus.

Both cygnus and olor mean "swan" in Latin; cygnus is related to the Greek kyknos. The synonym Sthenelides olor has occasionally been used in the past. More A native of northern and central Eurasia, the Mute Swan was introduced into North America to grace the ponds of parks and estates. Escaped individuals have established breeding populations in several areas, where their aggressive behavior threatens native waterfowl. More Mute swans are a non-native, invasive species first brought to this country from Europe in the late 1800s for their aesthetic value. Initially introduced in New York's lower Hudson Valley and Long Island, mute swans were kept by breeders and as domestics on the ponds of private estates. The release of domestic swans into the wild on Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley has led to well established populations in those areas. The largest known releases occurred from 1910-1912 and consisted of approximately 500 birds. More ► Vision and hearing: Mute swans have sharp vision and hearing.

► Sounds: Although they dont have a call they have a remarkable assortment of sounds to convey a broad range of emotions, from a gentle bleat through a range of puppy-like barking notes, and a head-to-tail long snort sometimes combined with head-raising and feathers fluffed, to register delight. More THE MUTE SWANS HISTORY AS OF 2009 The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. They are found in seventy countries (U.N.Environmental Program) legally hunted in none, admired and found on many stamps,coins and protected, except for a recently initiated program in some of the United States. Although they tend to be quieter than other kinds of swans, they are not mute, and do vocalize. More THE EXOTIC MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor) IN CHESAPEAKE BAY, USA. Matthew C. Perry, Peter C. Osenton, and Edward J. R. Lohnes USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 11410 American Holly Drive Laurel, MD 20708, USA.

More MUTE SWAN: The Mute Swan, which is a large all-white Eurasian "pond" swan, is semi-domesticated and is now naturally wild in the Eastern United States. The 1972 Audubon Christmas count showed 2,235 birds along the Atlantic coast plus 390 in Traverse Bay, Michigan. The Mute Swan was introduced into the U.S., possibly in mid 1800's. Some people believe that the Mute Swan may have first been introduced on the large estates of eastern Long Island and the lower Hudson River Valley. More Mute swanMute swans were introduced to North America in the late 1800s as decorations for parks, zoos and private estates. More Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)Description Adults of this large swan range from 125 to 170 centimetres (49 to 67 in) long with a 200 to 240 centimetres (79 to 94 in) wingspan. They may stand over 120 centimetres (47 in) tall on land.

Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bill. More Eurasia, mute swans were transported to northern Europe in the Middle Ages and, subsequently, to North America and have been favored among captive owners and breeders of waterfowl for their beauty and grace. Adult males are larger than females. Average mass for adult males is 10.2 kg and for adult females is 8.4 kg. Average length of males and females is 1.27 to 1.52 m. Adults can have a wing span of about 1.8 to 2.4 m. More Mute Swan Information Length: 58 - 60" Habitat: Lakes, ponds (including park ponds), coastal bays, marshes, and other wetland areas. Requires habitat with plentiful aquatic vegetation and large areas of shallow water. Mute Swan Photo © Don DesJardin Click to enlarge Diet: Mostly aquatic vegetation and algae. Some aquatic insects and crustaceans. More The mute swan, Cygnus olor, is a large and attractive white bird that is frequently seen on Britain's waterways, and is probably the best-known British waterbird.

Originating in north and eastern Europe, its population has exploded as a result of regular introductions since the 16th Century. It is immensely popular with children, who like to feed swans with bread. More les images similaires Mute Swan - North American ...876 x 700 · 92 kB · gif les images similaires Mute Swan681 x 681 · 36 kB · jpeg les images similaires TrekNature | Mute Swan in ...800 x 504 · 77 kB · jpeg les images similaires Mute swan689 x 688 · 79 kB · jpeg les images similaires Mute Swan Clipart700 x 644 · 136 kB · gifetc.usf.edu les images similaires TrekNature | Mute Swan Photo800 x 600 · 25 kB · jpegpl.treknature.com More The Mute Swan was first introduced in the United States as an ornamental bird in the 19th century. Since then their population has exploded.

The aggressive Mute Swan is crowding out native species and stripping rivers and lakes of its foliage disrupting the natural food chain. Methods of controlling the growth and decreasing their numbers are being considered. More The mute swan is a large, white type of waterfowl and a non-native, invasive species. Adults have: * An orange bill with a black knob at the base. * A long neck that is held in a graceful S-curve. * Black to grayish-pink legs and feet. Mute swans grow to about 60 inches with a wingspan of 70 to 90 inches. More parks, is the mute swan, of Old World origin. It breeds in the wild state in parts of Europe, Asia, and the United States. During the breeding season it has a trumpetlike note, softer in the tame birds. The whistling swan migrates from the arctic to Mexico. Conservation measures saved the almost extinct trumpeter swan of North America, the largest species. Wild species in Europe include the whooper (or whooping) and the Bewick swans.

More The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is one of the seven (or eight) species of swan, the largest of the waterfowl. Along with other swans, ducks, and geese, it belongs to the Order Anseriformes (anser being Latin for "goose"). It is also of the Family Anatidae (anas being Latin for "duck") More The mute swan forages by immersing its head and bill beneath the water and searching through the sediment and by consuming aquatic vegetation, terrestrial seeds, and grasses on the waters edge and shore. Occasionally it will eat amphibians, fish, mollusks, insects, and bread (Cramp, 1977). Young feed mostly on aquatic invertebrates for the first month of life (Ehrlich et al., 1988). Mute Swan Contaminant Exposure Data I. Organochlorine Contaminants 1. More Mute swan standing in shallow water, stretching its wings Mute swans are a familiar and impressive sight in Britain. Often found on ponds and rivers in parks and other urban areas. By tradition, all mute swans belong to the monarch.

They are one of Britain's largest and heaviest birds, with a wingspan of up to 2.4 metres. More Mute Swan Illustration Copyright More The Mute Swan Ministry is a non profit ministry dedicated to hope and healing through the belief that God's beauty is to be discovered in nature, art, relationships, life, even within great suffering. All of us have experienced loss… of a loved one, a marriage, health and these days many of us are losing their jobs, homes and financial security. More note 7 : altogether, 149 Mute Swans were colour ringed in the project (one young bird lost his plastic ring from the summer, and received the second one during the winter control). - Yellow neck collars with black code “ nnPx “ . Luka Jurinovic, Osjecka 3, HR-10410 Velika Gorica, Croatia. e-mail : e-mail luka.jurinovic@gmail. More North American RangeThe Mute Swan is a very large, completely white bird with a long neck held in an S-curve. The bill is orange with a black knob at its base. Juveniles are gray or white, with the white morph more common.

More Mute SwanThe mute swan is 50-60 inches in length with a wingspan of about 82-94 inches. It is completely white and has a long, graceful neck, an orange bill with a black knob at the base, a black face, and black feet and legs. It has a pointed tail and lacy wing feathers. Males and females look alike, but the male is usually a little larger and the black knob at the base of his bill is larger. More Mute Swan - Whatbird.com Mute Swan Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae) Code 4 Copyright © 2004 - 2017 Mitch Waite Group PHOTOS Photos we are missing. CONSERVATION STATUS The Mute Swan has a large range, estimated globally at 100,000 to 1,000,000 square kilometers. Native to Europe and Asia but also present in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, this bird prefers wetland or coastal marine ecosystems.

The global population of this bird is estimated at 600,000 to 620,000 individuals and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Mute Swan is Least Concern. IBIRD EXPLORER GENERAL posted on May 13, 2013 07:47 AM PHOTO SHARING AND DISCUSSION posted on December 01, 2009 12:06 PM BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY posted on June 12, 2016 09:03 PM SUMMARY Overview Mute Swan: Aggressive bird, entirely white, orange bill with large black basal knob and naked black lores. Curved neck is often stained with pigments from iron or algae. Legs and feet are black. Feeds on aquatic plants collected from bottom. Direct flight with strong steady wing beats. Range and Habitat Mute Swan: This swan is native to Europe and Asia.

It is an established species in the Midwest, especially in coastal areas of the Great Lakes where measures are being taken to remove them, and also along the East Coast, where they are increasing in number. Prefers freshwater, salt marshes, and protected bays. SONGS AND CALLS "ssssssssssss; "kloorrr" INTERESTING FACTS The Mute Swan is less vocal than the noisy Whooper and Bewick's Swans; the most familiar sound associated with them is the whooshing of their wings in flight. The phrase ‘swan song’ refers to this swan and to the legend that it is utterly silent until the last moment of its life, and then sings one achingly beautiful song just before dying; in reality, the Mute Swan is not completely silent. The Mute Swan is the national bird of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are very territorial. The familiar pose with neck curved back and wings half raised, known as busking, is a threat display. There have been many reports of Mute Swans attacking people who enter their territory. Their wings are believed to be so strong that they can break a person's arm with one hit.

A group of swans has many collective nouns, including a "ballet", "bevy", "drift", "regatta", and "school" of swans. SIMILAR BIRDS About this North America Map This map shows how this species is distributed across North America. FAMILY DESCRIPTION Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae) ORDER The ANSERIFORMES (pronounced an-ser-ih-FOR-meez), one of the oldest avian orders, is composed of three families and includes the bizarre and noisy screamers of South America, the odd Magpie Goose of Australia, and the globally distributed swans, geese and ducks. FAMILY TAXONOMY The swans, geese and ducks are grouped in the Anatidae (pronounced ah-NAH-tih-dee); a bird family with one hundred sixty-four species in forty-eight genera, various members of which can be found on all continents. NORTH AMERICA The Anatidae are represented in North America by sixty-nine species in twenty-three genera (including the extinct Labrador Duck).

Members of this well known bird family include the graceful, long-necked swans, familiar geese of farm fields and golf courses, and the many species of ducks. KNOWN FOR While all species are known for their association with aquatic habitats, Canada Geese are also known for their aggressive behavior when guarding their nests and young. After the breeding season, Canada Geese become better known for the "V" shaped flocks they form during migration. PHYSICAL Swans, geese, and ducks are large birds with long necks (longest in swans, shortest in ducks) and short tails. All species have webbed feet suited to their aquatic environments and distinctive flat bills - except for the mergansers with their thin, serrated bills ideally suited for catching fish. COLORATION Although swans and geese are mostly white, brown, and black, many ducks showcase several shades of grays, browns, and blacks combined with fine barring and streaking to result in a variety of beautifully patterned plumages for which females of the species are well known. Males in breeding plumage are more boldly patterned and often have iridescent blue or green on the head.

Both sexes usually show a spot of color in the wing known as a "speculum". GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT Swans, geese, and ducks occur throughout North America wherever aquatic habitats are found. While geese and some ducks are often found along the shoreline, species that feed on underwater vegetation such as swans and dabbling ducks prefer calm water with depths suited to the length of their necks. In deeper waters, the mergansers, scoters, and diving ducks occur. Boldly-patterned Harlequin Ducks swim in the swift rivers and turbulent seashores of the Pacific Northwest and some areas of the northeastern U.S. and Canada. MIGRATION A highly migratory family, most species migrate to open, ice-free water in sheltered bays and marshes of the southern United States with some reaching Mexico and Central America. HABITS Members of the Anatidae flock together after breeding in large, multi-species groups at sites with good, safe foraging. At such sites, scoters, Canvasbacks, and other diving ducks dive for mussels in the deep sections while dabblers such as Gadwall and Northern Shovelers forage on the surface and in the shallows.

On the shore, grazers such as geese and the American Widgeon forage on grass. CONSERVATION Populations of two Alaskan diving ducks, the Steller's and Spectacled Eiders, are threatened for reasons unknown; possible causes include changes in their habitats, nest predation by ravens and gulls, hunting, and the on-going effects of lead poisoning. The reasons why the Hawaiian Goose, and the Laysan and Hawaiian Ducks are endangered are much better understood; however after nearly going extinct, populations have stabilized but unfortunately don't have much room for growth in the limited amount of available habitat. INTERESTING FACTS The white plumage of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans sometimes takes on a dirty, rusty-brown appearance. The birds aren't actually dirty but do show rust-colored highlights from foraging in the iron rich environments of the far north. Regarding the well-known description of the sound made by a duck as a "quack," duck species in North America also variously whistle, squeak, click, and grunt.

TERMINOLOGY Mute Swan - Cygnus olor, species information Click any photo for a larger image Mute swan - Cygnus olor Family - Anatidae A well known and easily recognised aquatic bird of the British Isles frequenting many shallow water bodies and park ponds, found over temperate areas of Europe and western Asia. An introduced species in North America, their increase in numbers has them now regarded as an invasive species. There are also small introduced populations in Japan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand where until 2010 it had full protection. Usually reasonably tame they can become quite aggressive during mating or when protecting their young, making a loud hissing noise and flapping their wings. It is the largest bird to be found in the British Isles with males ♂ (Cobs) weighing up to 12Kg and females ♀ (Pens) to 10Kg, young are called Cygnets. Adults are white whilst Cygnets and sub adults are a dirty grey brown, adult wingspan to 2.5M (8ft) with a long slender neck, the beak is orange with a black knob at the base which is larger in males.

They fly with a slow wing beat and their necks outstretched unlike the Grey Heron who contracts the neck to an "S" shape. Population of about 30,000 in the UK which has increased in recent years, due to the banning of lead shot for fishing weights and better species protection. Breeding starts at about three years old, they lay between five and eight eggs at two day intervals, incubating them for about 37 days after the last egg has been laid, fledging after a further 120-150 days. A very large nest often reused each year is built of twigs, leaves and feathers just above the waterline during March and May usually in a secluded spot. Mute Swans can live to 25 years and more, but an average lifespan is about six to seven years. The Mute Swan is the national bird of the Kingdom of Denmark. All Mute Swans in the UK are considered the property of the British Monarch, except for flocks owned by the Vintners and Dyers Companies.

For some centuries Mute Swans were domesticated for food and other parts of the bird were also used, feathers for writing quills and wing bones for making whistles. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | Danube Delta Birdwatching Contact Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan , and thus a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae . It is native to much of Europe and Asia , and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa . It is also an introduced species in North America , Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Measuring 125 to 170 centimetres (49 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the bill.

The Mute Swan was first formally described by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin as Anas olor in 1789, and was transferred by Johann Matthäus Bechstein to the new genus Cygnus in 1803. It is the type species of the genus Cygnus. Both cygnus and olor mean "swan" in Latin ; cygnus is related to the Greek kyknos. Despite its Eurasian origin, its closest relatives are the Black Swan of Australia and the Black-necked Swan of South America, not the other Northern Hemisphere swans. The species is monotypic with no living subspecies . Evolution Mute Swan subfossils, 6,000 years old, have been found in post-glacial peat beds of East Anglia , Great Britain. They have also been recorded from Ireland east to Portugal and Italy, and from France, 13,000 BP (Desbrosse and Mourer-Chauvire 1972–1973). The paleosubspecies Cygnus olor bergmanni , which differed only in size from the living bird, is known from fossils found in Azerbaijan .

Fossils of swan ancestors more distantly allied to the Mute Swan have been found in four U.S. states: California, Arizona, Idaho and Oregon. The timeline runs from the Miocene to the late Pleistocene , or 10,000 BP. The latest find was in Anza Borrego Desert, a national park in California.Fossils from the Pleistocene include Cygnus paloregonus from Fossil Lake, Oregon, Froman's Ferry, Idaho, and Arizona, referred to by Howard in The Waterfowl of the World as "probably the mute type swan". Description Adults of this large swan typically range from 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 in) long, although can range in extreme cases from 125 to 170 cm (49 to 67 in), with a 200 to 240 cm (79 to 94 in) wingspan. although male Mute Swans can easily match or even exceed a male Trumpeter in mass.

Among standard measurements of the Mute Swan, the wing chord measures 53–62.3 cm (20.9–24.5 in), the tarsus is 10–11.8 cm (3.9–4.65 in) and the bill is 6.9–9 cm (2.72–3.5 in). The Mute Swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males (known as cobs) averaging about 11–12 kg (24.3–26.5 lb) and the slightly smaller females (known as pens) weighing about 8.5–9 kg (18.7–20 lb). While the top normal weight for a big cob is 15 kg (33 lb), one unusually big Polish cob weighed almost 23 kg (51 lb) and this counts as the largest verified weight for a flying bird, although it has been questioned whether this heavyweight could still take flight. Young birds, called cygnets, are not the bright white of mature adults, and their bill is dull greyish-black, not orange, for the first year.

The down may range from pure white to grey to buff, with grey/buff the most common. The white cygnets have a leucistic gene. All Mute Swans are white at maturity, though the feathers (particularly on the head and neck) are often stained orange-brown by iron and tannins in the water. The morph immutabilis ("Polish Swan") has pinkish (not dark grey) legs and dull white cygnets; as with white domestic geese , it is only found in populations with a history of domestication. Behaviour Mute Swans nest on large mounds that they build with waterside vegetation in shallow water on islands in the middle or at the very edge of a lake . They are monogamous and often reuse the same nest each year, restoring or rebuilding it as needed. Male and female swans share the care of the nest, and once the cygnets are fledged it is not uncommon to see whole families looking for food.They feed on a wide range of vegetation, both submerged aquatic plants which they reach with their long necks, and by grazing on land.

The food commonly includes agricultural crop plants such as oilseed rape and wheat , and feeding flocks in the winter may cause significant crop damage, often as much through trampling with their large webbed feet, as through direct consumption. Unlike Black Swans , Mute Swans are usually strongly territorial with just a single pair on smaller lakes, though in a few locations where a large area of suitable feeding habitat is found they can be colonial. The largest colonies have over 100 pairs, such as at the colony at Abbotsbury Swannery in southern England, and at the southern tip of Öland Island, Ottenby Preserve, in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea , and can have nests spaced as little as 2 metres (7 ft) apart. Non-mated juveniles up to 3–4 years old also commonly form larger flocks, which can total several hundred birds, often at regular traditional sites. A notable flock of non-breeding birds is found on the River Tweed estuary at Berwick-upon-Tweed in northeastern England, with a maximum count of 787 birds.

Once the adults are mated they seek out their own territories and often live close to ducks and gulls, which may take advantage of the swan's ability to reach deep water weeds, which tend to spread out on the water surface. The Mute Swan is less vocal than the noisy Whooper and Bewick's Swans; the most familiar sound associated with Mute Swan is the vibrant throbbing of the wings in flight. This sound is unique to the species, and can be heard from a range of 1 to 2 kilometres (0.6 to 1 mi), indicating its value as a contact sound between birds in flight. They do however make a variety of grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting noises, especially in communicating with their cygnets, and usually hiss at predators trying to enter their territory. Although this bird can be tame, especially to those who feed it daily, it is aggressive in defence of its nest, and its impressive size make it a formidable adversary for animals as large as a coyote . Most defensive attacks from a Mute Swan begin with a loud hiss and, if this is not sufficient to drive off the predator, are followed by a physical attack.

Swans attack by smashing at their enemy with bony spurs in the wings, accompanied by biting with their large bill. The wings of the swan are very powerful, anecdotally reported to exert enough force to break an adult man's leg. Large waterfowl, such as Canada Geese , (more likely out of competition than in response to potential predation) may also be aggressively driven off, and Mute Swans regularly attack people who enter their territory. The cob is also responsible for defending the cygnets while on the water, and will sometimes attack small watercraft, such as canoes, that it feels are a threat to its young. The cob will additionally try and chase the predator out of his family territory, and will keep animals such as foxes and raptors at bay. In New York (outside its native range), the most common predators of cygnets are common snapping turtles . Healthy adults are rarely predated, though canids such as coyotes , felids such as lynxes , and bears can pose a threat to infirm ones (healthy adults can usually swim away from danger unless defending nests) and there are a few cases of healthy adults falling prey to Golden Eagles .

The familiar pose with neck curved back and wings half raised, known as busking, is a threat display, mainly shown by males but also females to a small extent. The Mute Swan is found naturally mainly in temperate areas of Europe across western Asia, as far east as the Russian Maritimes , near Sidemi. It is partially migratory throughout northern latitudes in Europe and Asia, as far south as north Africa and the Mediterranean. It is known and recorded to have nested in Iceland and is a vagrant to that area, as well as to Bermuda, according to the U.N. Environmental Programme chart of international status chart of bird species, which places it in 70 countries, breeding in 49 countries, and vagrant in 16 countries. While most of the current population in Japan is introduced, Mute Swans are depicted on scrolls more than a thousand years old, and wild birds from the mainland Asian population still occur rarely in winter. Natural migrants to Japan usually occur along with Whooper and sometimes Bewick's Swans. The Mute Swan is protected in most of its range, but this has not prevented illegal hunting and poaching .

It is often kept in captivity outside its natural range, as a decoration for parks and ponds, and escapes have happened. The descendants of such birds have become naturalised in the eastern United States and Great Lakes , much as the Canada Goose has done in Europe. World population Native populations The total native population of Mute Swans is about 500,000 birds at the end of the breeding season (adults plus young), of which 350,000 are in the former Soviet Union . The largest single breeding concentration is 11,000 pairs in the Volga Delta . The population in the United Kingdom is about 22,000 birds, as of the 2006-2007 winter, a slight decline from the peak of about 26,000-27,000 birds in 1990. This includes about 5,300 breeding pairs, the remainder being immatures.

Other significant populations in Europe include 6,800-8,300 breeding pairs in Germany, 4,500 pairs in Denmark, 4,000-4,200 pairs in Poland, 3,000-4,000 pairs in the Netherlands, about 2,500 pairs in Ireland, and 1,200-1,700 pairs in Ukraine. For many centuries, Mute Swans in Britain were domesticated for food, with individuals being marked by nicks on their webs (feet) or beaks to indicate ownership. These marks were registered with the Crown and a Royal Swanherd was appointed. Any birds not so marked became Crown property, hence the swan becoming known as the "Royal Bird". It is quite possible that this domestication saved the swan from being hunted to extinction in Britain. Populations in western Europe were largely exterminated by hunting pressure in the 13th-19th centuries, with the exception of semi-domesticated birds maintained as poultry by large landowners.

Better protection in the late 19th and early 20th centuries allowed birds to return to most or all of their former range. More recently in the period from about 1960 up to the early 1980s, numbers declined significantly again in many areas, primarily due to lead poisoning from birds swallowing discarded fishing sinkers made from lead . After lead weights were replaced by other less toxic alternatives, Mute Swan numbers increased again rapidly. Introduced populations Since being introduced into North America, the Mute Swan has increased greatly in number, to the extent that it is considered as an invasive species . Populations introduced into other areas remain are small, with around 200 in Japan, less than 200 in New Zealand and Australia, and about 120 in South Africa. North America The Mute Swan was introduced to North America in the late 19th century. Recently, it has been widely viewed as an invasive species because of its rapidly increasing numbers and adverse effects on other waterfowl and native ecosystems .

For example, a study of population sizes in the lower Great Lakes from 1971 to 2000 found that Mute Swan numbers were increasing at an average rate of at least 10% per year, doubling the population every seven to eight years. Several studies have concluded that Mute Swans severely reduce densities of submerged vegetation where they occur. In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to "minimize environmental damages attributed to mute swans" by reducing their numbers in the Atlantic Flyway to pre-1986 levels, a 67% reduction at the time. According to a report published in the Federal Register of 2003 the proposal was supported by all thirteen state wildlife agencies which submitted comments, as well as by 43 bird conservation, wildlife conservation and wildlife management organisations. Ten animal rights organisations and the vast majority of comments from individuals were opposed. At this time Mute Swans were protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act due to a court order, but in 2005 the United States Department of the Interior officially declared them a non-native, unprotected species. Mute Swans are protected in some areas of the U.S.

by local laws, as for example in Connecticut . The status of the Mute Swan as an introduced species in North America is disputed by the interest group "Save The Mute Swans". They assert that Mute Swans are native in the region and therefore deserving of protection. They claim that Mute Swans had origins from Russia and cite historical sightings and fossil records. These claims have been rejected as specious by the U.S. Department of the Interior . New Zealand The Mute Swan had absolute protection in New Zealand under the Wildlife Act 1953 but this was changed in June 2010 to a lower level of protection. It still has protection, but is now allowed to be killed or held in captivity at the discretion of the Minister of Conservation. Cultural references Mute Swan, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology 5500–14300 g Relative Size Among the largest of waterfowl: more than double the size of a Snow Goose and about the same size as a Trumpeter Swan.

Other Names Cisne vulgar (Spanish) Cool Facts All of the Mute Swans in North America descended from swans imported from Europe from the mid 1800s through early 1900s to adorn large estates, city parks, and zoos. Escapees established breeding populations and are now established in the Northeast, Midatlantic, Great Lakes, and Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Mute Swans form long-lasting pair bonds. Their reputation for monogamy along with their elegant white plumage has helped establish them as a symbol of love in many cultures. The Mute Swan is reported to mate for life. However, changing of mates does occur infrequently, and swans will remate if their partner dies. If a male loses his mate and pairs with a young female, she joins him on his territory. If he mates with an older female, they go to hers. If a female loses her mate, she remates quickly and usually chooses a younger male. The black knob at the base of the male Mute Swan's bill swells during the breeding season and becomes noticeably larger than the female's. The rest of the year the difference between the sexes is not obvious.

Downy young Mute Swans (called cygnets) come in two color morphs: a gray form and a white form. The gray (or "Royal") chicks start off with gray down and grow in gray-brown and white feathers, giving them a mottled look. White (or "Polish") chicks have all white down and juvenal feathers. Adults of the white morph may have pink or gray legs and feet instead of black, but otherwise the adults look alike. Mute Swans have enormous appetites. A Maryland study found they ate up to 8 pounds a day of submerged aquatic vegetation, removing food and habitat for other species faster than the grasses could recover. Give plenty of space to nesting Mute Swans. They can be extremely aggressive and frequently attack canoeists, kayakers, and pedestrians who wander too close to a nest or chicks. Hans Christian Andersen’s fairly tale The Ugly Duckling chronicles the woes and triumphs of a young, Mute Swan that hatches in a clutch of duck eggs but goes on to become a beautiful swan. Some speculate that the book was based on Andersen’s own less-than-handsome looks as a youngster.

Mute Swans can adapt to degraded habitat and actually benefit from the spread of the invasive common reed Phragmites australis, which flourishes in disturbed sites. As the reeds spread into lakes and ponds, the swans can build nests farther offshore in the reed beds, where they’re safer from egg predators. Based on banding records, the oldest known Mute Swan in North America was a male and at least 26 years, 9 months old when he was found in Rhode Island, the same state where he had been banded. Habitat Lake/Pond Mute Swans mainly eat aquatic vegetation, along with some animal prey including frogs, tadpoles, fish, snails, mollusks and insects. In a Michigan study swans ate more animals during their annual molt and in spring when vegetation was scarce. Plant foods include eelgrass, several species of pondweeds, along with filamentous algae, wigeon grass, sea lettuce, bladderwort, flowering grasses, and agricultural grains. They also eat handouts from people, including cracked corn, bread, lettuce, and produce trimmings.

Mute Swans are voracious foragers, eating up to 8 pounds of aquatic plants a day that they tear off with their thick, rough-edged bills anchored by strong bill muscles. They skim plants from the surface and submerge all but their tail and feet to reach vegetation growing in deeper water. They also rake the bottom with their feet to expose tubers and dig up plants to bring to the surface. Food Plants Mute Swans mainly eat aquatic vegetation, along with some animal prey including frogs, tadpoles, fish, snails, mollusks and insects. In a Michigan study swans ate more animals during their annual molt and in spring when vegetation was scarce. Plant foods include eelgrass, several species of pondweeds, along with filamentous algae, wigeon grass, sea lettuce, bladderwort, flowering grasses, and agricultural grains. They also eat handouts from people, including cracked corn, bread, lettuce, and produce trimmings. Mute Swans are voracious foragers, eating up to 8 pounds of aquatic plants a day that they tear off with their thick, rough-edged bills anchored by strong bill muscles.

They skim plants from the surface and submerge all but their tail and feet to reach vegetation growing in deeper water. They also rake the bottom with their feet to expose tubers and dig up plants to bring to the surface. Behavior Dabbler Short legs placed well back on the body give Mute Swans an awkward walking gait, but the birds can run quickly if pursued and can take off from land and water, flying with head and neck extended. On the water they sometimes hold their wings slightly raised and “sail” with the wind. Mute Swans are predominantly monogamous and form long-lasting breeding pairs. They are extremely aggressive in defending their breeding territory. Before or during landing at a breeding site they’ll slap the water with their feet to announce their arrival and alert potential intruders. If another swan approaches members of the pair raise their wings and tuck their neck in a “busking” display to warn them off. Territorial defenses sometimes escalate to fights between males that can end with the dominant bird pushing its rival underwater. Mute swans also chase off ducks, geese, gulls, dogs, and humans.

The aggressive nature and enormous appetites of these nonnative birds pose a problem for wildlife managers: Mute Swans displace native species from breeding and foraging sites, and can damage feeding habitat by overgrazing aquatic vegetation status via IUCN Least Concern Mute Swan populations increased between 1966 and 2014, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The species is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List . With few natural predators, numbers of these aggressive non-natives can build quickly, displace native species, and damage aquatic habitat by overgrazing vegetation, creating a dilemma for wildlife and habitat managers. In the Maryland region of Chesapeake Bay, Mute Swans drove the last colony of Black Skimmers off their breeding grounds and trampled Least Tern nests and nestlings on the bay’s sandbars. Mute Swans are also displacing Black Tern colonies in New York. A number of states have adapted measures—including addling eggs and culling birds—to control Mute Swan numbers, although these measures tend to generate public controversy.

In Maryland, a population of over 4,000 had been reduced to fewer than 100 birds by 2012. Control efforts are also in place in the Central and Pacific Flyways, where wildlife managers are removing Mute Swans in efforts to reestablish Trumpeter Swan populations. Due in part to poor forward vision and maneuverability, Mute Swans are injured and killed by impacts with powerlines and other structures. They are also affected by lead poisoning from spent shot and fishing weights. Back to Top Credits Ciaranca, Michael A., Charles C. Allin and Gwilym S. Jones. 1997. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) . In The Birds of North America Online, No. 273 (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Allen, J., and D. Strain. 2013. Aquatic invasive species in Chesapeake Bay: Mute Swan. Maryland Sea Grant Publication No. UM-SG-PI-2013-01. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee. 2014.

State of the Birds 2014 Report . U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC. Cygnus olor - Wikidata Cygnus olor Cite this page This page was last modified on 7 January 2017, at 17:37. All structured data from the main and property namespace is available under the Creative Commons CC0 License ; text in the other namespaces is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Question: What is the better known name of the bird Cygnus olor?
Answer: MUTE SWAN